Report: Gosger To Skip Belmont In Favor Of Future Targets

[Wandering Eyes]

Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables' Gosger (Nyquist), who opened a five-length lead in the May 17 GI Preakness Stakes into the final furlong before being run down in the final strides by Journalism (Curlin), will reportedly not contest the final leg of this year's Triple Crown, the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 7. Daily Racing Form was first to report the news.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, the homebred colt earned his way into Preakness consideration off his two-length success in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes Apr. 12 and attended a strong early pace at Pimlico before taking over from Clever Again (American Pharoah) in upper stretch. The traffic issues that befell Journalism approaching the eighth pole dictated that Gosger spurted clear with time ticking away, and only a rally for the ages from the GI Kentucky Derby runner-up denied Gosger a 15-1 upset.

According to DRF, Gosger could instead be headed to the GI Haskell Invitational Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 19 or the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga July 26. Either could be used as a stepping-stone to the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes at the Spa on Aug. 23.

“I don't think we're going to go to the Belmont. I think we'll give him a little more time,” Walsh told the Form. “We'll see how the next few weeks go. I think he'll improve.”

A half-brother to GI QE II Challenge Cup heroine Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah), Gosger is out of the unraced Gloria S (Tapit), a half-sister to the Clarke-bred dual Classic winner I'll Have Another (Flower Alley). This is also the immediate family of recent GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile third Movin' On Up (Accelerate).

The post Report: Gosger To Skip Belmont In Favor Of Future Targets appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article